Service indicator



Aug. 29, 1950 P. A. BUCKY SERVICE INDICATOR YOUR TUR IS Y0 AREN XTINVENTOR. PETER/1. BUCK) A TTORNEX 'P. A'. BUCKY SERVICE INDICATOR Aug.29, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filegl May 20, 1947 Zak RR s w kWh QQK IN VENTOR. P: TERA. BUG/(Y A TTORNEX Aug. 29, 1950 P. A. BUCKY 2,520,198

SERVICE INDICATOR Filed May 20, 194.7 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BA N/(BJNVEi/TOR. PETER/7.511 cxy A T TORNE X Patented Aug. 29, 1950 SERVICEINDICATOR Peter A. Bucky, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Tell- A-TurnCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May20, 1947, Serial No. 749,394

"7 Claims.

The invention relates to sequence indication apparatus, operative moreespecially with reference to the order of serving purchasers of foods,drinks, or commodities generally, that is to say, apparatus which willafford automatically a visual or aural indication of the turn in whichthe customers order will be taken by an attendant.

It has for an object to provide signal means whereby a visual or auralindication will be given to designate to the attendant the party next tobe served, such signal being effected automatically by the proximity ofthe purchaser to the point of sale or service, or by a manual operationof the purchaser.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the indications thatboth the customer and the one responsible for the service will be givennotice thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby,after service has been rendered, the attendant may cause the particularsignal to be no longer displayed and a signal corresponding to thepatron next in order will then be automatically displayed to apprise theattendant of the proper person from whom to take an order.

Another object of the invention is to prevent efifective actuation by anattendant of any attendants signal nullifying means other than that ofthe particular station displaying a, signal.

In carrying out the invention, provision is made for closingindividually respective electric circuits, for example, automatically bythe seating of a customer; or, under the control of the customer, as inthe provision of a suitable switch or push button which when actuatedwill effect the circuit closing.

Upon the closing of such a circuit, operation of automatic sequencecontrol mechanism is initiated, said mechanism including a series ofmultiple relays and lamp selector means for each seat or booth, togetherwith a master selector for the control of signal means for apredetermined number of seats or booths. This will serve to provideimmediately at the particular station a suitable signal (as well asaccordingly modifying signals at other stations of a group), forexample, such as is afforded by an electric lamp, and cause the order ofservice to be indicated both to the customer and the attendant. Theseindications will change in accordance with the progression of serviceuntil a final signal is provided as, for erample, the display of alegend such as You Are Next. When the order is then taken by theattendant, the latter operates a fur- 2 ther switching means whichrestores that particular station to its initial status; and if furtherservice should be required thereat, a repeat switching means operated bythe customer will again place the particular station under the sequencecontrol with indications as aforesaid.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are isometric projections illustrating various adaptationsof the invention, Fig. 1 representing a bar or counter type of servicefixture equipped with the novel indicator system, and Fig. 2 a boothtype.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front and a rear elevation of anindicator unit which may be utilized in the novel sequence indicationsystem.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a seat-operatedswitch.

Figs. 66a (sheets II and III) is a block diagram illustrating theelectrical connections involved for two groups of stations; while Fig.'7 is a Wiring diagram for a single station.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, lil des gnates a counter or likeinstallation as commonly employed in connection with the sale of variouscommodities; and, in the particula embodiment shown, the counter isprovided with stools or seats located in front of the counter, whichseats may each be equipped with a circuit-closing switch H and of anature more especially disclosed in Fig. 5. As indicated, the switchmechanism may conveniently be provided in the nature of an annularmember fitted over the plunger portion H a of a stool and insertedbetween its head i l b and the flange I l c of the stool pedestal, saidswitch comprising a pair of contact rings Hd separated normally by ahelical spring lle but which permits the rings to contact each otherupon a seat becoming occupied. The said seats are represented in Fig. 1by their backs l2 which,

project above the top or" the counter. Or, the seating arrangement maybe in the nature of a booth l3, Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In the former embodiment, Fig. 1, there is provided along the rear edgeof the counter l0 and opposite each of the seats indicated at !2 anindicator unit M, which in the latter embodiment, Fig. may be secured tothe rear wall [5 of the booth, said indicator units in either casebeingclearly visible to the occupants desiring service. ple, with a pluralityof lighting elements such as the electric lamps 16, Fig. 3, designed toindicate the order of service, in the instant embodiments A unit it isprovided, by way of exam-' seven lamps. It will be understood, ofcourse, that other indicator means may be utilized, such as auralindicators (not shown). As indicated in Fig. 3, the said lamps arecaused then to illuminate indications II at the front of the indicator,such as Your Turn Is, 5, 3, 2, and You Are Next, these being arranged,preferably, marginally about -a central fieldaportion [8 which maypresent, if" desired; suitable matter for advertisement orentertainment, either of the stationary or motion type.

There is associated with the indicator unit for example, at the backthereof, a further lamp H! which, when energized, will serve to'notifythe attendant that this particularstation is the next" one to be served;and a control or clearing switch member such as the push button?!)is'provided-for: each indicator unit whereby the attendant may restorethe circuit for the particular station to its initial status. A furtherswitch or push button 2 l' is'provided-for each indicator unit'shouldad'di tional service be desired, it -b'eing understoodthat the order ofsuch service will then be subject to' completion of service atotherstations which may have in the'meantime'beenoccupied. Inthe case ofthe booth arrangement, the attendants indicator lamp 22 may be locatedon top of the booth for ready visibility and the order and repeat-orderswitches are consolidated in a single pushbutton Or thelike 23 Therestorin switch 24 is located at-some point on the wall convenlent tothe attendant, and is preferabl in'the nature of a key-operated switchto provide against tampering therewith.

When a customer occupies a seat'lZor presses the ordei'-i'epeat -orderbutton23, a relay and'selector system, Fig.5. 6-6a and '7, becomesenergized to=determine the particularsequence of service for suchoccupant--a like system, with the ex-' ception of a master relay, beingprovidedfor each station or seat and the respective systems beinginterconnected as hereinafter set forth so that all stations areinfluenced by the particular action-taken at any one of them. Allof thestation systems, however, are subject to asingle master selector; and,if desired, a-plurality of groups of" stations, each with it's ownmaster'selector, may be'int'egrat'ed and arranged for interconnectionthrough their respectivemaster selectors for common operation.

As indicated in the block diagram, Figs. 6 6a; one group or bank A ofstations maybe consoli datedwith a similar group or bank B, etc,whichmay-comprise either the-same number'ofstations or a differentnumber from that'of" the bank A. In the said'Figs. 6-661, twostations-are indicated at 25, 25' for each group and at'each of saidsta-- tions is included the seat switch i l and patrons'- repeat switch2!, or the patrons order and repeat switch 23; also, the attendantsswitch 20 or 24} aswell as a plurality of lamps IGand IS'or 2-2.

Grounding connections 26, 2! are made respectively from the seat switchllandfrom-arela-y" controlled indirectly by the attendants switch 20 or24; and throughthe leads 28; Z9 and 30'conn'ection is made to thebank'of relays 3 I, one lead, as the' lead 30, being continued also tothe-con trol of a master selector to which is connected a source ofpower 33 grounded at one'side. Fur ther ground connections 34; 34 areprovided to said selector; and a connection 35'is madetorelay-bank3ltherefrom.

A power impulse-producing or pulser member is-connected to relay bank31' through lead from said relay bank to a circuit finder selector 45.This selector has connection with a source of power 46, one side ofwhich is grounded. The said selector has connection from its contactpoints, also, to corresponding contact points of said master selector 32through the leads 41, 48, 49, 50, and El; as well as through the leads52, 53, 54 55, ancli56to the remaining circuit-finding selectors of'theparticular'b'ank A, the latter leads being connected respectively tosaid leads 41, 48, 49-, 50, and 5| to this end.

If the" groups of stations are integrated into several banks A, B, etc.,and it is desired to operate'the banks-jointly instead of severally,further leads 60, Blare arranged to interconnect the selectedbanksthrough their respective master selectors 32,31, etc., connections beingmade respectively to the leads 30 and 35 thereof, Fig. '7. The masterselectors then operate in unison to control the various apparatus ofstations 25, 25', etc;, including the-'circuit-fin'ding selectors 45with lamp selectors 63 relay'banks 32-, lamp units I4' etc., of theadditional group-or groups A single -throw"double pole switch 82, etc.,may to this'end be provide'dlin theconnection leads;,6'l to placesaidmaster selectors 32, 32 in' parallel with each other.

The sa id' circuit-finder selectorv 45 is powered fromthe pulser"40 andfrom'the' source 48; and it I. is m'ech'an'ically coupledito' a furtherselector 631' for energizingsynchronously with the operationct'selector: Tend-successively the lamps 5 and I 9: or? 22; of units;1.4 atthe indicator stations: 25'. Connecting leads 54, 65, 66, 61,63;-693 and. 10; of'the' various-lamps areYprovided to this end and for theai-t endantsiswitch betweenv the selectorr63: and astation'indicator' l4;

The operation of the various'elements, upon closing ofith'e. seatiswitch It (or the manually operatedbooth switch 23) will-best beunderstood byfreferenc'e to-theiwiring diagram; Fig. '7. When switch Hfis. thus-closed upon the seating of a patron, for example, a circuitiisgrounded through the: connection 28- to energize the coil of a first.relay'lclf comprising .four sets ofcontacts 12;.13, 14 and 15, powerbeing derived from thesource indi catedzat i6 having/onesi'de grounded.Theenergizing circuit-includes: also the normally closed contact-.171or. asecond: relayTBi having its. coill connected to the? ungroun'dedside of the source of power-"l6; A" normally'opemcontact 19 of relay 18is designed tob'e closed when its coil is energized; Which a-tthe-same'time opensthe contact I I: of said relay.

Relay'ii isdesigned tobeheld in by the clos ing oi-switch l Lin theclosing thereby 'of contact '!2 controlled by said relay through th'eground connection of a normally closed contact 88 controlled by relay"18: Relay H I will" thus be held in irrespectiveof any opening of thecircuit at switch I! subsequent to it's initial closing upon:seating'of' an'occ'upant' or'manual operation of switch123in:the:boothtype:- The said relay-may be released then only by actuation oi theattend--- ants'switch 20 or 24 to complete the power connectionto therelay l8, as willhereinafter be'set forth.

With-relay "i l thus maintained active until the entire stationis-cleared by an" attendant and r'estored to-its -iriitial status; thefollowing operations take place. Relay contact la is closed-uponenergizationzof said r'elay H i to provide a ground' connection therebyat='- 27 for" electrical energy" fr'om'a source'82 and controlledthrough these-- lector" arm'= of lam selector 8? to power succes sivelythe lamps i and eventually lamp l9or 22 as said arm is moved by theselector under con-- trol' of the circuit-finding selector 45 to whichit is. coupled mechanically. One of the lamps I6, however, isindependently energized irrespective of'the selector control through thelead 65 and immediately upon energize-tion of relay H. The particularone of the lamps 6 to be energized at this time, indicating the turnnumber I] for order of service, will depend upon the location of the 1circuit-finding selector arm as positioned under the influence of themaster selector 32 through circuit-finding selector 45, in accordancewith the status of the other seat switches.

Closing of the seat switch II, also, has momentarily energized the coilof a third relay.85, from power source 86, through the normally closedcontact 13 of relay 1 I, closing thereby contact 81 of said relay 85 tohold the latter in through the ground connection afforded by thenormally closed contact 90 of a fourth relay 91. This serves to actuatethe master selector 32 through lead 35 to its coil 92 as a result of theoperation of the relay 85 in closing the circuit at the grounded relaycontact 53, thereby to advance the said selector one step.

The energization of relay H has also effected the closing of a circuitat the contact "M which controls the return movement of selector throughits subtract coil 95, this circuit normally normally open contact 9% ofrelay 85. When this contact closes upon energization of said relay 85,the add coil 91 of selector 45 functions, each pulse transmitted servingto advance the selector one step which will be continued until the armof selector 45 reaches a position similar to that of the master selectorarm, at which time the particular circuit of the leads 47-55interconnecting the two selectors 55 and 32 will serve to completethrough lead at and relay 85 contact 98 a circuit through the relay 95to the grounded power source 99 of the master selector. The said relay9! then interrupts the holding circuit for relay 85 at the contact 93;and as this relay falls out, the pulser circuit is interrupted atcontact 95, as well as the master selector control circuit, at contact93, for advance of its arm by control under influence of coil 52 of theparticular selector.

As additional stations of a group are put into service, the singlemaster selector 32 is accordingly advanced--one step for each energizingstation; and upon service being rendered, the attendant operates theswitch as or 2 3 which subtracts one step at all of the circuit-findingselectors and their master relay, the various stations in the case ofseveral groups of stations being interconnected through leads me andlill, the former being connected to the subtract coil lead 3%) of themaster relay as well as to the contact M and the latter to the add coillead of said master relay and to the contact When a circuit-findingselector 25 of a station has been advanced as aforesaid intocorrespondence with the master selector, the proper lamp indication willhave been made through selector 63 and power from the source 32.

Each time an attendants switch 29 or 24- is operated to efiect theclosing of a circuit at its contact 8|, a ground connection isestablished at 27 through lead 66, provided the selector 63 has reachedthe attendants light position. Also, a

power circuit is provided through the coil of relay 18 to open at thecontact H the seat-controlled circuit to relay H which thus becomesdeenergized. At the same time, this operation of switch 26 or 24 servesto close the circuit to the subtract coil I92 of the master selector tobring its control arm back one step as well as to power the subtractcoil 95 of circuit-finding selector 45 prior to the opening of contactM.

In the event that the master selector should jump ahead or fall behindwith respect to the lamps controlled thereby, provision may be made formanual adjustment of the selector through an add switch E68 and asubtract switch M4 in re- 4'. spective circuits shunting the controlmagnets 92 and 5232. Also, to prevent possibility of confusion ofindications should, for example, several seats of a bank ofinstallations be occupied simultaneously, one or more points may beincluded on the indicator controlling selector 63 ahead of the normallyfirst or end point and to which they are electrically connected. Shouldsuch simultaneous occupancy then occur, there might be two or even threelike indications for service.

De-energization of relay H opens the hold-in circuit at contact 12 andat contact l5 the ground connection to selector 53 which causes thelamps at the particular station to become deenergized. Also, the contactit closes; and release of the contact 15 of said relay H will cause thesubtract circuit of selector "is to be opened.

This circuit is further opened at a normally closed contact 866 of relay78 when relay 78 is energized but said relay becomes ole-energized asaforesaid when attendants switch is again opened, its closure being onlymomentary in the case of the manually operated switch station, or whenan occupant has left the seat in the seat.- switch type. The particularstation is placed as a result of the same in condition for a new patronor for a repeat order.

Should it be desired to effect at an occupied seat a repeat serviceafter the aforesaid restora-' tion of the normal status of a stationfollowing the operation of switch 20 or 24 by an attendant, it isnecessary for the patron merely to operate the repeat order switch 2| toopen momentarily at its contact the ground-connected holdin circuit forrelay 18. This restores the circuit at contact 11 for operation again ofrelay H upon release of repeat switch 2! to complete the circuit at itscontact I01, which thus initiates a second cycle with respect to theparticular station. In the case of a manually operated station, ratherthan a seat-switch operated one, the order and repeat-order switches arecombined into the single manually-controlled switching member 23 whichis, preferably, of the momentary closed type (not shown). In thisarrangement, relay [8 will remain energized only so long as theattendants switch 24 is held closed but for a time sufiicient to eiTectthe aforesaid cycle and clear the particular station for a repeatoperation.

I claim:

1. In a service system: the combination with a plurality ofinstallations at which service is to be rendered, independently operableelectrical circuit closing means associated respectively with eachinstallation and respective circuits thereat adapted to be closed by acorresponding closing means; of indicating units for the respectiveinstallations, each of said units comprising a plurality of signalelements adapted to indicate seenemas:

quence of service-when a; corresponding one oii the-circuits thereat isclosed by its closingmeans,

the'units being so located with respect to each of theinstallations asto appriseone to be-servedof-the'service sequence for the particularstation atwhich a signal element is energized; relay means adapted foractuation upon the closing of any of said installation circuits, asingle elec-' trically operable master selector under control of=therelay means for successive advance-thereof; and circuit-finder selectormeans correspondihgin number to the individual installationsiiorcontrolling their respective indications,- the-contacts of eachcircuit-finder selector meansbeing electrically connected withcorresponding contacts of the master selector; pulser means controlledby'said relay means for advancing a circuit-finder selector means; andmanually operableindividual circuit-closing means associatedrespcctivelywith each of the indicatingunits, to effect through said relay meansenergization of the master selector for actuation in a reverse directionto clear the indications only of the indicating unit oi' thecorresponding; station previously effected by the closing of itselectrical circuit means as well as to set back any advancedcircuit-finder selector means.

2. The service system according to claim 1,.

wherein anindicating means is associated with a unit at eachinstallationto apprise an attendant of the particular installation to be served,said indicating means being electrically connected with and controlledby a corresponding circuitfinder selector means.

3.'The' service system according to claim 1, wherein the circuits at therespective installations are each provided with a circuit"openingclosing means for establishing a repeat service indicationthrough the relay and selector' means;

4. The service system according to claim 1, wherein the installationsare integrated into a plurality of groups for service independently byrespective attendants, a masterselector means is provide'd' for eachgroup, and'switching means are provided for electrically interconnectingthrough the respective master 'sel'ect'onmeansof 8: the several: groupsselected groups for common: servicetbyl a single. attendant.

5. The" service system according. to: claims 1-,, wherein an auxiliaryselector; is provided and I is? operable with a circuit-finder'selectormeans; which controls the signal elements of-a corre spondinginstallation indicating, unit, said aux-- iliary, selector being;provided with contact points: for" energizing-r respectively theunitelements: and with" contact points additional thereto andrelectrically connectedtoan end one:of the:first& named contact points.

6: The servicesystem according to claim 1, wherein the master selectormeans controls: a: predetermined number oftheindicatingzunitiinstallations and corresponding manually con trol-led circuit-closing meansare provided and are; adapted: for electricalconnection therewith to; afiect means for selectively causing an advance onafretraction'of the master selector-.

7. The; service system according to claim 1;, wherein the masterselector means controls a; predetermined number: of the indicatingunitinstallations, circuit-finder selector meansare; provided for eachinstallation, and an auxiliary; selector is provided to control thesignal ele ments of the respective installation units, saidauxiliary'selectors being mechanically connected;- with the respectivecircuit-finding selector;

means.-

PETER A. BUCKY.

REFERENCES CITED The-following references are of record 'in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany May 12, 1916"

